Badabing Badaboom!

Today I cleaned, did laundry, ironed clothes, finished another book and cleaned some more!  Tomorrow I am getting on a plane back to CA....so I wanted to make sure everything was in tip top shape before leaving!

Andrew got home early from work tonight. We had some wine, cheese and olives then headed downtown (on foot, of course!) for dinner around 7:30. We had reservations for 8:30...but wanted to take our time, have a glass of wine and just relax before dinner.

For dinner we went to:

Andrew had the Creole Curried Crabboccino and I had the Swedish Stew as starters:

for the main course, Andrew had the Swordfish Nicoise and I had the Canadian Cedarwood Smoked Salmon:

Ahhhhhhh...everything was delicious!  For dessert Andrew had the Italian Black Cherry Creme Brulee and I had the Australian Sticky Toffee Pudding.....both yummmmyyyy!

While we were sitting there having dinner the table we overheard the men at the table next to us saying over and over "Badabing Badaboom" and then a lot of "Nederlands (Dutch) intermingled in their conversation!  Sounded like they were a little on the tipsy side! LOL!

After dinner we walked a little more...then headed home for a nice quiet evening!

Have to get up early to catch my flight back to CA. The house has been on the market two weeks now. Hopefully we'll get some interest this weekend....maybe we'll get an offer! Wish us luck!

That's What I'm Talkin' About!

Sitting here in the house in Haarlem listening to music and downloading more on ITunes...remembering my very first ITunes download:

"Polk Salad Annie"  Love it!!!  LOL!  Watch and you'll see why.....can't help but smile listening to it...even though the lyrics are sad....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCSsVvlj6YA


Last night I went to a Book Club meeting with the Haarlem AWCA (American Women's Club of Amsterdam). Because the meeting was on the other side of town, Andrew had to drive me there. I have yet to drive here....I've taken to walking, taking the bus and trains everywhere. Next time I come I will get a bicycle!

We read "Lord of Misrule" by Jaimy Gordon.

It's a book I normally wouldn't have read...made me step out of my comfort zone......We had an interesting discussion about the book for about an hour.

It was nice to meet other women from the same town I'm living in. They do a "Walk in the Woods" every week also, so I'm hoping to join them when I come back in April. I will need a bicycle though, because the location they start from is a few miles from home. Haven't ridden in years.....we'll see how it goes!  Have to get over that fear....

Today, off to run errands (walk downtown), get some laundry done and start reading the next book on my list:  "Good Graces" by Lesley Kagen.

Kevin called from Afghanistan!  He's been out on patrol quite a bit on foot and in the MRAP. He hasn't been able to shower for 2 weeks at a time. It sure was good to hear his voice!


For dinner tonight:

Mager Rundergehakt (rund vlees) with bolognese sauce over ai Formaggi e Spinaci and some Krulsla melange (gezonde keuze!)....lean ground beef with bolognese sauce over spinach tortellini and a healthy choice mixed salad!  Boy, do I have a lot to learn!

Zandvoort Beach, Holland

Today is my daughter Jackie's 29th birthday!  Happy birthday to a beautiful young woman...what a special day!

Today Andrew and I decided to relax and take a trip to the beach!  It's only about 5 miles west of us, so in the summer we will ride bicycles there......But today...we drove the car...

It was quite chilly today......but quite enjoyable to be there!  I love the power of the ocean. It always brings to mind how small we are and how much we need the power of God in our lives....

What a wonderful place to spend the day!

We noticed some flags blowing in the wind......they are pictures Che Guavera. I don't understand why people idolize someone who took pleasure in executing thousands?!?

There are a lot of buildings along the shore of the beach:

Including the restaurant where we had lunch at the De Haven! We had bitterballen and Jopen beer (which is made in Haarlem) before I got my "gamba" (shrimp) and Andrew had a burger...

This is a rutter from a ship!

While we were eating our lunch these two little girls were sitting on a bench in the restaurant. Their legs were so small they sat straight legged and their feet just reached the edge of the bench. They sat there licking their lollipops and swinging their little feet back and forth in sync with each other and giggling. It was so fun to watch them! It doesn't matter the culture.....the innocence of children is soooo warming to the heart to see!

A warning sign as you enter the beach:

Careful on stairs, they are damaged!

As we were walking back to the car I Laurel and Hardy sitting on someone's front porch!  Isn't it cuuuute and happy!?!??!  It's only about 2 feet tall...but it made me smile!

We stopped for gas on the way home:  This is equivalent to about $6.82 a gallon!

This is a thatched roof house we saw on the way home:

On our way home, it started snowing!!! It lasted about 10 minutes and was gone......so pretty!

What a wonderful day!